East Cambridgeshire

East Cambridgeshire's population expanded in the 10 years leading up to 2011. Data from the census show there were changes in religion, housing tenure and work life.

The population reached nearly 84,000

In the 10 years leading up to 2011, the population of East Cambridgeshire increased by 14%, from about 73,200 to 83,800.

The addition of just under 11,000 people means this area's population was the third-fastest-growing in Eastof England and increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, East Cambridgeshire was home to, on average, 0.92 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was lower than the average across Eastof England

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across Eastof England, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older East Cambridgeshire

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of East Cambridgeshire increased by one year, from 39 to 40 years.

This rural area had a slightly higher average age than Eastof England and remained slightly older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of almost 2,800 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years.

About 16% of people in East Cambridgeshire are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and East Cambridgeshire by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

East Cambridgeshire stood out from other areas for work life

In East Cambridgeshire, the proportion went up from 58% in 2001 to 59% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion fell from 55% to 54%.

The rate of unemployment in East Cambridgeshire increased from 2.2% to 2.9%, while the rate of self-employment increased from 11% to 12%.

The rate of employment was higher than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that that said they were employed across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in East Cambridgeshire

The number of people in East Cambridgeshire that described themselves as having no religion increased from just over 11,000 in 2001 to just under 24,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 15% to 28% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across Eastof England (from 17% to 28%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in East Cambridgeshire that described themselves as Christian decreased from just under 55,000 in 2001 to about 52,000 in 2011 (from 75% to 62%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from about 6,300 to about 6,600. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 8.7% to 7.9%.

About 370 people (0.2%) said they were Muslim, up from just over 160 in 2001 (0.4%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population without a religion in East Cambridgeshire increased by 13 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and East Cambridgeshire by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in East Cambridgeshire that rented privately increased from 9.0% to 13% in the decade to 2011.

The proportion that lived in social housing remained close to 14%, while the percentage of East Cambridgeshire households that owner their home decreased from 73% to 69%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a slower rate here than the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 8.6% in 2001 to 15% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in East Cambridgeshire increased by 4.3 percentage points

Percentage of households in East Cambridgeshire, Eastof England and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of people working long hours fell in East Cambridgeshire at a faster rate than in nearby Cambridge.

In East Cambridgeshire, the proportion of long hours workers decreased from 17% in 2001 to 12% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in Cambridge decreased from 12% to 10.0%.

Across Eastof England, the share of people working long hours decreased from 15% to 11%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in East Cambridgeshire increased from 1.6% to 2.5%.

Long hour working in East Cambridgeshire decreased by 4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in East Cambridgeshire, Eastof England and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

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Area report data

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